Teal MP ‘dismayed’ by authorities’s new gasoline technique
Impartial MP Kylea Tink has joined her fellow teals in criticising the federal government’s new gasoline technique.
In an announcement, the member for North Sydney stated it was “dismaying” to see the federal government unveil a gas-led transition plan. She stated:
Continued and expanded fossil gas use is out of step with international local weather objectives and dangers hindering the transition to renewable vitality. Locking in gasoline for many years and inspiring using CCS isn’t a pathway to a sustainable future.
This seems to be like ‘gas-fired restoration’ 2.0, reinforcing simply how beholden to the gasoline trade our main political events are.
One factor is obvious. Opening up new fossil gas initiatives is not going to assist deal with local weather change. We have to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels in the direction of cheaper, cleaner renewable sources of vitality. Not open up new gasoline fields.
Tink stated the group is “demanding significant local weather motion” and in relation to this technique, she is going to “dig into the element and are available again with a balanced evaluation” for constituents.
Key occasions
Sarah Basford Canales
The house affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, has welcomed scathing findings towards her division over failures to crack down on dodgy migration brokers allegedly concerned within the exploitation of international staff.
The Australian Nationwide Audit Workplace (ANAO) yesterday afternoon discovered residence affairs had largely failed in its function as a watchdog of migration brokers over the previous decade, taking prolonged durations of time to cope with complaints and dismissing investigations earlier than utilizing its regulatory powers.
O’Neil famous the audit report checked out a time frame that has since been addressed by a reform bundle.
Following the discharge of the Nixon evaluation in November final yr, which discovered short-term migrant staff had suffered “grotesque abuses” attributable to a scarcity of presidency oversight, the Albanese authorities introduced a doubling of employees, together with rising sanctions and obligations.
O’Neil stated the newest findings reiterated these discovered within the Nixon evaluation, and pointed the blame on the earlier Coalition authorities for the division’s shortcomings:
It endorses the findings of Christine Nixon, whose personal evaluation discovered that the immigration enforcement a part of Residence Affairs had been underfunded and suffered attributable to a protracted interval with out adequate focus. That is one other glimpse into the legacy of Peter Dutton – damaged methods, open exploitation and abuse.
Learn the unique story under:
Air Vanuatu reportedly in administration
Elias Visontay
A raft of Air Vanuatu flights have been cancelled or modified after the airline that runs essential routes connecting Pacific places with Australia and the area reportedly entered administration.
Alain Lew, chairman of the Air Vanuatu board, informed the Vanuatu Day by day submit that the board now not exists following the appointment of an administrator on 6 Could.
The identical report cited an official from the nation’s prime minister’s workplace suggesting extra info can be launched as soon as the reported directors, Ernst & Younger, arrive in Vanuatu.
The precise circumstances of the airline’s administration are unclear, and remark is being sought by the Guardian.
Australian airports are additionally unclear as to the standing of Air Vanuatu’s operations. Brisbane airport has stated it’s awaiting an replace from the airline, and has warned travellers by way of social media that the airline has cancelled its Brisbane flights for right this moment and tomorrow and to not journey to the airport.
In the meantime, one in all its plane stays parked at Melbourne airport, with no fast service scheduled.
The airline had been reported as dealing with severe monetary conditions in latest months, and information of it coming into comes at a tumultuous time for the aviation trade in Australia and the pacific area, following finances provider Bonza coming into voluntary administration final week.
Bonza’s planes fly off as prospects, staff in lurch
Bonza’s fleet of planes has begun to be faraway from Australia earlier than the airline’s monetary disaster is laid naked at a collectors’ assembly, AAP experiences.
The embattled finances provider, which was again in federal courtroom this morning forward of the primary assembly tomorrow, appointed directors after the lease settlement for its planes was terminated.
The primary of these planes – a Boeing 737 Max 8 – flew out from Sunshine Coast airport shortly after 9am right this moment destined for Honolulu. With out planes, Bonza has cancelled all flights till 15 Could and won’t compensate any buyer neglected of pocket.
Legal professionals for directors Corridor Chadwick have been in courtroom finalising Friday’s assembly, the place collectors – together with about 58,000 prospects neglected of pocket – shall be up to date on the airline’s dire monetary state.
Barrister James Hutton SC stated directors had obtained virtually 9,000 emails from potential collectors and about 2,000 had supplied proof of money owed.
Most of the points raised by Justice Elizabeth Cheeseman in an earlier courtroom listening to had been sorted out by the directors, together with the flexibility for collectors to ask questions.
Friday’s assembly is ready to happen by way of Zoom. Greater than 300 Bonza workers, who’re additionally in line to change into collectors, stay stood down. You’ll be able to learn extra on this from Elias Visontay under:
Issues for Nice Barrier Reef amid authorities’s new gasoline technique
The Australian Marine Conservation Society says the federal government’s new gasoline technique “locks in local weather change, fossil gas dependence and extra damaging offshore gasoline schemes” because the Nice Barrier Reef faces its worst bleaching occasion.
In an announcement, the society stated the timing of the gasoline technique being unveiled “couldn’t be worse” amid the newest bleaching occasion and information the planet is headed for not less than 2.5C of heating. AMCS’s oil and gasoline marketing campaign supervisor, Louise Morris, stated:
The ALP’s future gasoline technique will deliver extra damaging offshore gasoline drilling and seismic blasting, which impacts the entire marine meals chain, from the very basis, killing zooplankton, by to forcing whales from their feeding and breeding grounds…
The long run gasoline technique will lock in additional intense and extra frequent marine heatwaves which can be killing the enormous kelp forests of the Nice Southern Reef and bleaching and killing coral on the Nice Barrier Reef.
The OECD’s Worldwide Vitality Company stated in 2021 that we are able to haven’t any new fossil gas developments if we’re to restrict international warming to 1.5oC – a crucial threshold for coral reefs. Not solely is the Albanese authorities not doing sufficient to battle local weather change, its future gasoline technique will deliver the destruction of the Nice Barrier Reef.
The Greens’ spokesperson for wholesome oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson, stated the gasoline technique “locks in a world of world boiling and the sure demise of the Reef as now we have been so fortunate to understand it in our lifetime.”
Man charged with frequent assault throughout protest in Sydney’s CBD
A person has been charged following an alleged assault throughout a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney’s CBD on the weekend.
About 3pm on Sunday, police have been alerted to an alleged assault on George Avenue.
Officers have been informed a 26-year-old girl collaborating within the protest was allegedly assaulted by a 45-year-old man. The person and girl usually are not identified to one another.
Officers arrested the person who was taken to Surry Hills police station and charged with frequent assault.
He was granted conditional bail to look earlier than Downing Centre native courtroom on 30 Could.
Chris Minns says Sydney council guide ban ‘a joke’
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, stated the choice for a Sydney council to ban books on same-sex parenting is “a joke” and “the entire thing’s ridiculous”.
In a video posted to X, Minns said “it’s a library – you possibly can selected to learn a guide or not”.
It appears to me to be engineered by one in all these councillors as a result of there’s an election arising. However what a joke. I imply, he ought to belief his personal residents sufficient to stroll right into a library and skim regardless of the hell they need.
You’ll be able to learn all of the background on this under:
Cumberland councillors have to repeal their determination to ban same-sex parenting books now.
We must always think about our group to decide on what they learn.
It’s clear the LGBTQ+ group is getting used as a political soccer right here – leaders in our group ought to know higher. pic.twitter.com/BwMhh7BlpL
— Chris Minns (@ChrisMinnsMP) Could 9, 2024
Teal MP ‘dismayed’ by authorities’s new gasoline technique
Impartial MP Kylea Tink has joined her fellow teals in criticising the federal government’s new gasoline technique.
In an announcement, the member for North Sydney stated it was “dismaying” to see the federal government unveil a gas-led transition plan. She stated:
Continued and expanded fossil gas use is out of step with international local weather objectives and dangers hindering the transition to renewable vitality. Locking in gasoline for many years and inspiring using CCS isn’t a pathway to a sustainable future.
This seems to be like ‘gas-fired restoration’ 2.0, reinforcing simply how beholden to the gasoline trade our main political events are.
One factor is obvious. Opening up new fossil gas initiatives is not going to assist deal with local weather change. We have to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels in the direction of cheaper, cleaner renewable sources of vitality. Not open up new gasoline fields.
Tink stated the group is “demanding significant local weather motion” and in relation to this technique, she is going to “dig into the element and are available again with a balanced evaluation” for constituents.
Josh Butler
Federal parliament to carry condolence motions for victims of the Bondi Junction stabbing
Federal parliament will mark condolence motions for the Bondi Junction stabbing victims subsequent week, forward of the federal finances.
A draft program for the Home of Representatives, revealed on the web site of the Division of Prime Minister and Cupboard, lists a condolence movement to be mentioned on Tuesday.
It is going to mark the deaths of Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Ashlee Good, Daybreak Singleton, Faraz Tahir and Jade Younger, the six folks killed within the Westfield buying centre assault.
The movement is listed for after 2pm on Tuesday, following the swearing-in of the newly-elected member for Cook dinner, Simon Kennedy, who gained a byelection for Scott Morrison’s former seat final month.
The each day query time will then comply with, forward of the finances speech at 7.30pm.
The draft legislative program reveals the Home may even debate payments associated to unlawful logging, the sports activities anti-siphoning scheme, vaping reforms, digital ID, superannuation concessions and the online zero economic system authority subsequent week.
NSW pronounces $45.3m in funding to deal with regional well being workforce shortages
The New South Wales authorities has introduced $45.3m in funding for healthcare employee accomodation throughout the areas – one of many largest limitations to attracting and retaining employees.
Healthcare employee accomodation shall be rolled out throughout Damaged Hill, Balranald, Cooma, Finley, Leeton, Narrandera and West Wyalong, in line with an announcement from NSW’s well being minister, Ryan Park.
The accomodation shall be supplied “near work” and assist assist healthcare staff trying to set up themselves in a brand new group, the assertion stated.
Park stated:
We all know recruitment is without doubt one of the largest challenges dealing with our regional, rural and distant well being providers … Crucial to attaining this has been bringing extra well being staff to our areas, and these models will assist employees trying to set up themselves in a brand new group.
Thinktank requires reducing gasoline demand as a substitute of accelerating provide
Extra reactions are coming in relating to the Albanese authorities’s new future gasoline technique, which has been condemned by environmental teams and unbiased MPs.
Josh Runciman, the Institute for Vitality, Economics and Monetary Evaluation’ lead gasoline monetary analyst, stated:
Although the Future Fuel Technique requires extra gasoline provide to handle ‘shortfalls’, IEEFA’s analysis finds that cost-effective measures to decrease residential gasoline demand will remove the chance of annual and peak day shortfalls within the southern states whereas additionally reducing family vitality payments. Australian households are locking in $1.2bn in pointless prices for annually that new gasoline home equipment proceed to be put in.
We don’t consider that gasoline will assist Australian trade. As we’ve seen lately, numerous main industrial gasoline customers have closed amenities attributable to difficult gasoline market circumstances regardless of a give attention to new gasoline provide by Aemo. Decreasing residential family gasoline demand shall be more practical in guaranteeing ample gasoline provide for industries that aren’t but in a position to make use of options to fossil gasoline.
Our analysis has discovered that additional gasoline exploration and improvement is certainly not wanted. Fuel exploration expenditure has been falling for the previous decade as gasoline corporations pivot to renewable investments or return money to shareholders. It’s unlikely that expenditure will materially improve as anticipated by the long run gasoline technique.
Police examine assault on Coffs Harbour girl
New South Wales police are interesting for info after a lady was left unconscious after allegedly being assaulted in Coffs Harbour on the state’s mid north coast.
The 45-year-old walker was struck from behind on Coffs Creek walkway about 6am on Wednesday in what police describe as a “severe assault”.
She was discovered by two members of the general public greater than 4 hours later, at about 10.20am. The girl was handled by paramedics earlier than being taken to hospital for additional remedy.
Police are urging anybody who could have seen suspicious exercise within the space between 5.30am and 10.30am to return ahead.
The alleged assault comes per week after a surfer was allegedly fatally stabbed close by, metres from Coffs Harbour’s Park Seashore.
Police presence within the native space has been elevated.
Cashed-up WA to submit one other massive finances surplus
Western Australia’s run of huge finances surpluses is predicted to proceed, with the state authorities set to inject $500m into heavy industrial use to assist crucial minerals and inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing, AAP experiences.
The treasurer, Rita Saffioti, will ship her first finances right this moment, with some analysts predicting the 2023/24 surplus will fall in need of final yr’s projected $3.7bn and drop under $3bn for 2024/25.
A brand new Strategic Industries Fund will pump $500m into common-user infrastructure, together with roads, energy, water and gasoline connections, the West Australian reported forward of the finances.
Kwinana will obtain a lift of $125m for brand spanking new blocks in its industrial precinct and an extra $40m will movement to Karratha within the state’s north-west, the Peel area, the Goldfields and the south-west for industrial improvement.
An extra $36.4m is earmarked for brand spanking new measures to chop by inexperienced tape and expedite approvals. The premier, Roger Cook dinner, stated the federal government was investing to ship high quality jobs in sources and vitality. He informed the West Australian:
Our financial power and pure sources imply demand is working sizzling for land to arrange main job-creating initiatives, in each our areas and Perth’s industrial heartland in Kwinana.
It is going to assist to lock in WA’s sturdy economic system for many years to return – a downpayment on our children’ future.
The federal government has already introduced billions of {dollars} in new spending, together with money to enhance the well being system and ease the housing scarcity and value of dwelling stress.
Saffioti yesterday flagged extra spending to assist households, together with housing initiatives and funding within the well being sector, however was giving little away.
Peter Hannam
Unscheduled coal plant outages a part of NSW’s energy stains
So what’s triggered this uncommon worth cap intervention within the wholesale energy market? (See earlier submit)
Anybody dwelling in japanese NSW would know the previous week or so has been comparatively cloudy and at instances fairly calm. That’s been dangerous for renewable vitality output.
Additionally not serving to has been the unscheduled outages at three coal-fired energy models. Two of them have been at Origin Vitality’s Eraring energy plant, and the opposite at Vales Level. (Right here’s yesterday’s era, by way of the Victoria Vitality Coverage Centre.)
(Clarifying an earlier tweet.) Origin Vitality says two of its 4 Eraring coal-fired models have been offline these days after unplanned outages. One needs to be again on-line later right this moment and the opposite by the top of the weekend to make “routine repairs”. pic.twitter.com/Y7XqPbeFAw
— @phannam@mastodon.inexperienced (@p_hannam) Could 9, 2024
Origin’s spokesperson says “there have been short-term unplanned outages for routine repairs” at Eraring. One of many two models needs to be again on-line later right this moment and the opposite one by the top of the weekend.
And to fill the hole, gas-fired energy stations have fired up, burning the costly fossil gas, the VEPC information reveals:
NSW’s energy strains come because the state authorities is negotiating to maintain not less than half of Eraring working past its August 2025 scheduled closure. It’s the largest coal-fired energy station in Australia at 2880 megawatts (when they’re all working).
And the federal authorities is busy right this moment touting the necessity for extra gasfields to assist demand and assist the grid.
Fairly topical, in different phrases, earlier than we get into the knowledge of burning extra fossil fuels when international heating is hardly slowing down.
Peter Hannam
Market regulator imposes worth cap on NSW spot energy costs
The Australian Vitality Market Operator has needed to intervene to cap wholesale energy costs in New South Wales after a mixture of outages at coal-fired energy crops and comparatively low wind and photo voltaic output.
A so-called administered worth interval was declared yesterday night, quickly after costs crossed an accumulation threshold (of $1.49m, for what it’s price).
Costs shall be capped within the state at $600 megawatt-hour for the following few days not less than, with AEMO saying:
Regardless of these excessive wholesale electrical energy costs, at current there may be adequate electrical energy to satisfy demand in NSW and all through the nationwide electrical energy market.
We’ll look a bit extra within the subsequent submit at what’s precipitated the ability issues however it’s honest to say such elevated costs don’t make it simpler to deliver down electrical energy costs. (A couple of third of retail energy payments come from era prices.)
NSW not presently on observe to satisfy emissions discount targets
Catie McLeod
New South Wales isn’t on observe to satisfy local weather change targets, in line with the federal government’s personal environmental database.
The projections on the web zero emissions dashboard present that NSW is monitoring in the direction of a 44% discount in greenhouse emissions by 2030 as a substitute of fifty%, and 65% by 2035 as a substitute of 70%.
Environmental advocates held a press convention with unbiased Wagga Wagga MP, Joe McGirr, and Legalise Hashish MP Jeremy Buckingham at NSW parliament earlier right this moment, the place they referred to as on the federal government to cease funding the growth of coal and gasoline initiatives.
The up to date projections come as the federal government is predicted to announce it can subsidise Origin Vitality to maintain the state’s largest coal fired energy plant at Eraring open for as much as 4 extra years.
Talking at this morning’s press convention, the Local weather Vitality Finance director and analyst, Tim Buckley, stated the Eraring subsidy would price the taxpayer $150m a yr. He stated:
We’re placing band aids on finish of life coal belongings as a substitute of investing within the options to everlasting low price zero emission options that Australia and NSW desperately must see accredited.
This can be a race to the highest and but the NSW authorities in 2024 is now going within the flawed route.
We name on them to reallocate planning sources to approving the initiatives we critically want to resolve the local weather disaster.
The federal government had beforehand stated it anticipated to satisfy its targets, which it enshrined in legislation final yr.
Benita Kolovos
Prime minister says gasoline and its ‘firming capability’ are a part of serving to with pathway to internet zero
Anthony Albanese is now defending to the federal government’s new future gasoline plan, which has been condemned by environmental teams and independents.
The prime minister stated his authorities is dedicated to a internet zero future and “gasoline energy era is one thing that companies renewables.”
So while you have a look at manufacturing, for instance, simply to offer one instance – what Rio Tinto are doing there with its processes related to aluminium. They’ve simply signed the largest deal for renewables that has ever been signed wherever in Australia, however what they regard as essential is affirming capability to be supplied by gasoline. We assist internet zero, and gasoline and its firming capability as part of helping with that pathway to internet zero.
